Writing a Formal Lab Report
All scientists use a similar format to write reports, although the headings and order may vary slightly. Your
report should reflect the process of scientific inquiry that you used in the investigation.
Cover Info:
 The title of your investigation
 Your name
 Your instructor’s name
 The course code
 The date the lab was performed, and the due date
Abstract: A concise summary of the entire study. Include the purpose/hypothesis
tested, a brief description of the methods used, and the conclusions obtained. It
should be no more than a few sentences long.
Introduction: A brief explanation of the pertinent theory underlying the
experiment. This includes the information you discovered by researching your
topic. It also includes the purpose of your investigation as well as what you expect to find (your hypothesis).
Note that not all experiments will require a hypothesis – your teacher will inform you.
Materials & Equipment: Write a list of all the materials and equipment used in the experiment. Be specific
about sizes and quantities. For chemical substances, include formulas (e.g., calcium chloride, CaCl2 – 2
g.).
Procedure: The most important part of an investigation, when others are trying to determine if it is “good” or
“bad” science, is the procedure. Many researchers read only the procedure section in a report, to gain
insight into a procedure they could use themselves. Remember to write this out in numbered steps, past
tense, and passive voice. Do not include steps that a scientist would know to perform (e.g., put on safety
goggles).
What is past passive tense?
CORRECT: 5.0 mL of acetic acid was measured out in a graduated cylinder
INCORRECT: I measured out 5.0 mL of acetic acid in a graduated cylinder
Do not include steps that a scientist would know to perform (e.g., putting on safety goggles; chemical
disposal; workstation clean-up).
Results: Present your observations and results in a form that is easily understood. The data should be in
tables, graphs, or illustrations, each with a title (for tables – and placed above the table) or figure caption
(for graphs and illustrations – and placed below the figure). Number your tables and figures sequentially.
Attach your original data to the back of the report.
Examples
Table 1. Candy preferences of a group of
thirty Grade 10 students.
Type of Candy
Chocolate
Gummi bears
Lollipops
Jelly beans
Gum drops
Frequency
12
7
5
3
3
Figure 1. In a sample of thirty Grade 10 students,
chocolate is the most popular type of candy.
Discussion: Summarize the investigation. Explain how you arrived at your conclusion(s). Justify your
method and describe your results.
Refer back to your hypothesis. Was it correct, partially correct, or incorrect? If you were assigned questions
with an investigation, you would answer them here. If you did not achieve your purpose, or your
hypothesis was not correct, state why. Discuss any sources of experimental error that may have affected
your findings.
Conclusion:
Refer back to the goals of your experiment, and summarize the outcome. Did you achieve your goal? Was
your hypothesis correct, partially correct, or incorrect? If you did not achieve your purpose, or your
hypothesis was not correct, state why. If there were any major sources of error, be sure to include them.
References/Bibliography: Give credit for the resources you used in your research. Always cite your sources.
Failing to do so is considered plagiarism. You must cite all information in two ways:
1. In-text citation, in body of text
Immediately after the information is used, give the last name of the source, the date of the publication,
and the page reference as follows:
For two authors:
…(Jolie & Pitt, 2009, pg. 15).
For three to five authors: …(Styles, Malik, Horan, Payne, & Tomlinson, 2013, pg. 54). (first time)
…(Styles et al., 2013, pg. 92). (subsequent citations)
2. Works cited list, at the end of the report
List all works alphabetically. Each entry should have a hanging indent.
For a book:
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year of publication). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle. Location:
Publisher.
For a website:
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Date of publication). Title of document. Retrieved from http://Web address
Citing information is extremely important. More extensive citation guides can be
found by searching “APA citation guide”. Here’s a good one:
http://library.concordia.ca/help/howto/apa.php
Additional Notes:
 Single-space your report, and use size 11pt or 12pt font.
 Always use your own words – even if you cite the source. Plagiarism can
result in a mark of zero on the entire assignment. Direct quotes are not
acceptable.
 Spelling, grammar, and formatting are extremely important! You are being marked on your ability to
communicate the goal and conclusions of your lab experiment.
 Type your report, and double-space it. Use subscripts where necessary (i.e., chemical formulas)